18/04/2026
HISTORICAL REALITIES OF NWONYO ANNUAL TRADITIONAL FISHING FESTIVAL
Nwonyo creek fishing festival has been in existence for over 100 years and its discovery can be traced to Bula Wurbo in 1861. He was the same person who also founded Ibi settlement and became the leader/chief.
Nwonyo means variously as follows: One, “hideout for dangerous aquatic animals” such as crocodiles, snakes, hippopotamus, among others. The other two descriptive meanings in Jukun language for Nwonyo are: “under shed of locust bean trees”, and “an abode for snakes”.
The Nwonyo creek in its early discovery, as explained earlier was primarily a source of fishing for the predominantly Wurbo fishing/farming communities, until the Chief of Ibi, Bula Wurbo transformed it into a local fishing festival, where neighbouring communities came once in a year to catch fish.
The first public fishing festival was held during the reign of Aku Uka, Agbumanu II (1903-1915) in which the Wurbo of Ibi were the only participants, while people from Wukari and other neighbouring communities came as spectators.
In 1943, the late Mallam Muhammadu Jikan Bula, Chief of Ibi appointed Mallam Muhammadu Sango as the custodian of the creek (Sarkin Ruwa). His duty was to secure the creek against any unauthorized fishing and also to always declare the commencement for the yearly fishing festival. He patrolled the creek regularly with his guards to ensure the fishes grow to maturity and desired sizes before announcing the commencement of the festival. As the years went by, precisely in 1954, the level of participation increased.
The Nwonyo festival is celebrated mostly in the dry season when the level creek water is low. During the festival, lots of activities do feature, apart from fishing which is the raison d'etre. Such events include: Swimming competition, dances,
music and singing competition, boat regatta, masquerades performances, among others. During the fishing competition, canoes are used to protect the competitor
